हा वीर ननुनामाहमिष्टा किल तवानघ। अस्यामटव्यां घोरायां किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
Alas, O hero, was I not indeed dear to you? In this terrible forest, why do you not answer me?
भर्त्सयत्येष मां रौद्रो व्यात्तास्यो दारुणाकृतिः। अरण्यराट् क्षुधाविष्टः किं मां न त्रातुमर्हसि
This fierce one with gaping mouth and dreadful form is threatening me, the lord of the forest, maddened by hunger—why do you not protect me?
न मे त्वदन्या काचिद्धि प्रियाऽस्तीत्यब्रवीस्तदा। तामृतां कुरु कल्याण पुरोक्तां भारतीं नृप
"I have no one dearer than you," you once said; make that true, O noble one, fulfill the promise you made before, O king.
उन्मत्तां विलपन्तीं मां भार्यामिष्टां नराधिप। ईप्सितामीप्सितोसि त्वं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
Though I am distraught, lamenting, your beloved wife, O lord of men, and you are my heart's desire, why do you not answer me?
कृशां दीनां विवर्णां च मलिनां वसुधाधिप। वस्त्रार्धप्रावृतामेकां विलपन्तीमनाथवत्
O lord of the earth, you see me thin, miserable, pale, and dirty, with only half a garment to cover me, alone and lamenting like one without support.
यूथभ्रष्टामिवैकां मां हरिणीं पृथुलोचन। न मानयसि मामार्य रुदन्तीमरिकर्शन
O broad-eyed one, like a doe separated from her herd, I am alone—yet, O noble one, you do not honor me as I weep, tormentor of enemies.
महाराज महारण्ये मामिहैकाकिनीं सतीम्। आभाषमाणां स्वां पत्नीं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
O great king, in this vast forest, your own faithful wife speaks to you—why do you not answer me, leaving me here alone?
कुलशीलोपसंपन्नां चारुसर्वाङ्गशोभनाम्। `अनुव्रतां महाराज किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
O king, I am endowed with family virtue and good conduct, beautiful in all my limbs, and devoted—why do you not reply to me?
नाद्यत्वां प्रतिपश्यामि गिरावस्मिन्नरोत्तम। वने चास्मिन्महाधोरे सिंहव्याघ्रनिषेविते
O best of men, today I do not see you speak with me in this dreadful forest, haunted by lions and tigers.
शयानमुपविष्टं वा स्थितं वा निषधाधिप। प्रस्थितं वा नरश्रेष्ठ मम शोकनिबर्हण
O lord of Niṣadha, whether lying down, sitting, standing, or departing, O best of men, you were the remover of my sorrow.
कं नु पृच्छामि दुःखार्ता त्वदर्थे शोककर्शिता। कच्चिद्दृष्टस्त्वयाऽरण्ये संगत्येति नलो नृपः
Whom shall I ask, afflicted by grief for your sake and tormented by sorrow—has anyone seen King Nala in the forest, coming this way?
को नु मे कथयेदद्य वनेऽस्मिन्विष्ठितं नृपम्। अभिरूपं महात्मानं परव्यूहविनाशनम्
Who today will tell me of the king dwelling in this forest, handsome, great-souled, and destroyer of enemy hosts?
यमन्वेपसि राजानं नलं पद्मनिभेक्षणम्। अयंस इति कस्याद्य श्रोष्यामि मधुरां गिरम्
Of whom will I hear today the sweet words, 'This is the king Nala, lotus-eyed,' for whom you tremble?
अरण्यराडयं श्रीमांश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रो महाहनुः। शार्दूलोऽभिमुखोऽभ्येति पृच्छाम्येनमशङ्किता
Here comes the lord of the forest, splendid, with four fangs and great jaws—a tiger approaches me face to face, yet I question him without fear.
भवान्मृगाणामधिपस्त्वमस्मिन्कानने प्रभुः। विदर्भराजतनयां दमयन्तीति विद्धि माम्
You are the lord of the beasts, the master in this forest; know me as Damayantī, daughter of the king of Vidarbha.
निषधाधिपतेर्भार्यां नलस्यामित्रघातिनः। पतिमन्वेषतीमेकां कृपणां शोककर्शिताम्
I am the wife of Nala, lord of Niṣadha, slayer of foes, searching for my husband, alone, wretched, and consumed by sorrow.
आश्वासय मृगेन्द्रेह यदि दृष्टस्त्वया नलः। `सिंहस्कन्धो महाबाहुः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः
O king of beasts, if you have seen Nala—broad-shouldered, mighty-armed, with eyes like lotus petals—comfort me here.
अथवाऽरण्यनृपते नलं यदि न शंससि। मां खादय मृगश्रेष्ठ दुःखादस्माद्विमोचय
But if, O lord of the forest, you cannot tell me of Nala, then devour me, best of beasts, and release me from this suffering.
श्रुत्वाऽरण्ये विलपितं ममैष मृगराट् स्वयम्। यात्येष मृष्टसलिलामापगां सागरोपमाम्
Hearing my lament in the forest, this king of beasts himself goes to the river, clear as crystal and vast as the ocean.
इमं शिलोच्चयं पृच्छे शृङ्गैर्बहुभिरुच्छितैः। विराजितं दिवस्पृग्भिर्नैकवर्णैर्मनोरमैः
I question this mountain, adorned with many lofty peaks, shining with sky-touching, variously colored, delightful summits.
नानाधातुसमाकीर्णं विविधोपलभूषितम्। आस्यारण्यस्य महतः केतुभूतमिवोच्छितम्
Covered with many kinds of minerals, adorned with various stones, it rises like a banner in this great forest.
सिंहशार्दूलमातङ्गवराहर्क्षमृगायुतम्। पतत्रिभिर्बहुविधैः समन्तादनुनादितम्
Resounding all around with lions, tigers, elephants, boars, bears, and deer, and with many kinds of birds.
किंशुकाशोकबकुलपुन्नागैरुपशोभितम्। [कर्णिकारधवप्लक्षैः सुपुष्पैरुपशोभितम् ।।]
Adorned with kimshuka, asoka, bakula, and punnaga trees, [and embellished with karṇikāra, dhava, and plaksha trees bearing splendid blossoms.]
सरिद्भिः सविहङ्गाभिः शिखरैश्च समाकुलम्। `पृथिव्या रुचिराकारं चूडामणिमिव स्थितम्'। निरिराजमिमं तावत्पृच्छामि नृपतिं प्रति
Crowded with rivers teeming with birds and peaks, its beautiful form stands upon the earth like a crest-jewel; I shall ask the king about this.
भगवन्नचलश्रेष्ठ दिव्यद्रशन विश्रुत। शरण्य बहुकल्याण नमस्तेऽस्तु महीधर
O revered one, greatest of mountains, famed for your divine vision, refuge of many virtues, salutations to you, O mighty hill.
प्रणमे त्वाऽभिगम्याहं राजपुत्रीं निबोध माम्। राजस्नुषां राजभार्यां दमयन्तीति विश्रुताम्
I approach and bow to you; know me as a princess, the daughter-in-law and wife of a king, renowned as Damayanti.
राजा विदर्भाधिपतिः पिता मम महारथः। भीमो नाम क्षितिपतिश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षिता
My father is the king of Vidarbha, a mighty charioteer, named Bhima, ruler of the earth and protector of the four orders.
राजसूयाश्वमेधानां क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्। आहर्ता पार्थिवश्रेष्ठः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः
That foremost of kings, broad-eyed and splendid, is the performer of Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices, and giver of abundant gifts.
ब्रह्मण्यः साधुवृत्तश्च सत्यवागनसूयकः। शीलवान्वीर्यसंपन्नः पृथुश्रीर्धर्मविच्छुचिः
He is devoted to Brahman, of virtuous conduct, truthful and free from deceit, endowed with character and valor, possessing great wealth, and pure in his understanding of dharma.
सम्यग्गोप्ता विदर्भाणां निर्जितारिगणः प्रभुः। तस्य मां विद्धि तनयां भगवंस्त्वामुपस्थिताम्
He is the proper guardian of the Vidarbhas, lord who has conquered his foes; know me as his daughter, O revered one, who has come before you.